Snowshoe harness



May 6, 1947. J, A.,1.. NADEAU 2,420,261

SNOW SHOE HARNESS Filed Aug. 22,- 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor v MW finyv (/Zl M65 6 a a WWW y 1947. J. A. L. NADEAU 2,420,261

SNOW SHOE HARNESS 2 sheets-sheet" 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1944 Inventor 4 Jay/{flit Mieaw Z6 /Z By Eatented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SNOWSHOE HARNESS Joseph A. L. Nadeau, The Forks, Maine Application August 22, 1944, Serial No. 550,597

Claims.

This invention relates to a snow shoe harness and more particularly to an improved harness for securing a snow shoe to the foot of a wearer.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved harness providing a relatively rigid stabilizer enabling the wearer to maintain better control over the snow shoes.

A further important object is the provision of a snow shoe harness adapted to be secured directly to the mainstay of the snow shoe, and to no other portion thereof.

An additional object is the provision of such a harness which, when secured in position, will remain in such position without the possibility of slippage or disalignment.

A still further object is the provision of a snow shoe harness, adjustable to a variety of sizes, which will be efficient and reliable in use, strong and durable in construction, and relatively simple to manufacture and to attach to an associated snow shoe.

Additional objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of thi inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a snow shoe having a harness of the instant invention secured thereto in association with the foot of a wearer.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the harness as secured to the snow shoe.

Figure 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a constructural detail showing a means of securing a portion of the harness to a portion of the snow shoe.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective detail view showing the means of securing certain operating parts in association with certain others.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2 as viewed from the right.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2 as viewed from the bottom, and

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to Figure 1, a snow shoe is generally indicated at I0. Snow shoe in is comprised of the conventional frame H, a mainstay I2 suitably secured to the frame, a toe piece 2 l3, a toe hole i4 and the customary webbing l5, A harness generally indicated at it and comprising an important feature of this invention is designed to secure the snow shoe II) to the foot ll of a wearer.

Harness I6 is comprised of a substantially U- shaped stabilizer bar !8 preferably constructed of metal although other suitable material may be utilized if desired, and preferably cylindrical in cross-section throughout its length to a point adjacent the ends thereof, at which point it is flattened, (as best shown in Figure 4) as indicated at 2i). Rod i8 is provided with a cover 2| of leather, rubber, fabric, or the like formed from a strip having its edges secured together as by stitching as indicated at 22.

The lower side of covering 2| terminates as at at a point adjacent the extremity 20 of stabilizer IS, the upper portion of covering 2! however is extended to provide a flap 24 of a substantial length. The upper and lower portions of cover 21 are secured to the flattened ends 20 of stabilizer 58 as by suitable rivets 25 passed therethrough to hold the parts securely in related assembly. Straps 25 extend through loops 26 comprising the ends of a separable toe strap 21 the opposite parts of which are adjustably secured together as by a buckle 28, and a toe guard 29 is secured as by loops 39 on toe strap 21. Straps 24 extend beyond loops 26 and are then secured as by a girth hitch generally indicated at 35, to mainstay 12. In forming a girth hitch it may here be pointed out that strap 24 is first looped around mainstay 12 as indicated at 36, thence carried upwardly over itself and over flattened end 20 of stabilizer I8 as indicated at 31, thence looped downwardly as at 38 again about mainstay l2, and thence passed beneath looped portion 31 as at 39 to engage a buckle 40 secured to the upper portion of covering 2!, securely holding the hitch in position about mainstay l2. An arch strap R5 has its looped ends 46 hooked over the sides of stabilizer H8 at an intermediate point to preclude the harness from riding upwardly with respect to the foot of the wearer. Strap 45 is preferably comprised of rubber or similar resilient material to permit the harness to accommodate itself to the movement of the wearers foot.

A separate ankle strap 41, having its ends adapted to be secured together as by a buckle 48, is also provided. Ankle strap 41 may comprise a suitable portion of covering 2 i, split therefrom, at a point adjacent the lower extremity of the stabilizer, adapted to surround the wearers ankle, or

may be comprised of a separate strap suitably secured in the position indicated (see Figure 6).

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a snow shoe harness which is secured to the mainstay of the snow shoe and wholly retained in related assembly with the snow shoe by such securing means. It will also be seen that the relatively rigid stabilizer bar provides a ready means of securing the boot of the wearer firmly in the desired position as well as providing an improved means for controlling the direction in which the snow shoe is guided. It will also be seen that the toe strap,

ankle strap and arch strap serve securely to hold the harness against slippage or displacement.

The harness may be made in any desired size to accommodate any size of boot or shoe and the buckles of the toe strap and ankle strap readily permit adjustment to any size of toe or ankle.

Thus, there is herein provided a snow shoe harness accomplishingall the objects of this invention and many others including advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of'tl'n's inventiveconcept and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore'described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting'sense.

I claim: I

1. In combination with a snow shoe having a frame and a mainstay across said frame, a relatively rigid U-shaped stabilizer, the ends thereof being positioned adjacent-saidmainstay, a cover for said stabilizer, said cover terminating in flexible straps extending beyond the ends of said stabilizer, means for securing said straps-about said mainstay, and buckles for retaining said straps in secured position.

2. In combination with a snow shoe having a frame and a mainstay across said frame, a relatively. rigid U-shaped stabilizer, the ends thereof being positioned adjacent said mainstay, a cover for said stabilizer, said cover terminating at each end in flexible strap extending. beyond the ends ofsaid stabilizer, meansformin'g a girth hitch for securing'saidstraps about said mainstay, and means. for securing said girth hitch and hence saidlstraps in related assembly with said mainstay, 1

3. .In combination with a snow shoe having a frame and a mainstay across said-frame, a relatively' rigid U-shapedstabilizer, the ends thereof being positio'ned adjacent said mainstay, a cover for saidstabilizer, said cover terminating at each end in flexible strap extending beyond the ends of said stabilizer, a toe strap, having looped ends, positioned adjacent said mainstay and secured in position by the passage of said first-mentioned straps through said looped ends, means for securing said straps about said mainstay, and buckles for retaining said straps in secured position.

4. In combination with a snow shoe having a frame and a mainstay across said frame, a relati'vely rigid U-shaped stabilizer, the ends thereof being positioned adjacent said mainstay, a cover for said stabilizer, said cover terminating at each end in flexible strap extending beyond the ends of said stabilizer, a toe strap, having looped ends, positioned adjacent said mainstay and secured in position by the passage of said first-mentioned straps through said looped ends, means for securing said straps about said mainstay, buckles for retaining said straps in secured position, an arch strap. positioned between the legs of said u-shaped stabilizer at an intermediate pcint therealong, and an ankle strap for securing the harness about the ankle of :a user.

5. In combination with a snow shoe having a frame and a mainstay acrosssaid frame, a relatively rigid U-shaped stabilizer, the ends thereof being positioned adjacent said mainstay, a cover for said stabilizer, said cover terminating at each end in flexible strap extending beyond the ends of said stabilizer, a toe strap,.havinglooped ends, positioned adjacent said mainstay and secured in position by the passage of said first-mentioned straps'through said loopedends, means for securing said straps about said mainstay, buckles for retaining said straps in secured position, an arch strap positioned between the legs of said U-shaped stabilizer at an intermediate point therealong, anankle strap for securing the harness about the ankle of a user, said ankle strap comprising an integral portion of said cover for said stabilizer.

JOSEPH A. L. NADEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS "Rintamaki et al July 13, 1943 

